Reports of mysterious text messages being sent to people from their own phone numbers cropped up this week and are likely part of a larger phishing scheme.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
The scam appeared to be targeting Verizon customers, according to reporting by CNET.
"Verizon is aware that bad actors are sending spam text messages to some customers which appear to come from the customers' own number," a Verizon representative said in an emailed statement to the outlet. "Our team is actively working to block these messages, and we have engaged with US law enforcement to identify and stop the source of this fraudulent activity."
Every phone user is familiar with spam calls, and now text messages, by now. But the scope of how successful these scammers are at obtaining people's personal information is still unclear.
"We don't have great data on how many people are actually clicking and responding," said Josephine Wolff, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity Policy at Tufts University to KCBS Radio's Megan Goldsby on Wednesday.
But many people at least view the message, which is more than what spam calls might accomplish. "That suggests that there is some degree of effectiveness."
What is interesting, is the increased use of people's own numbers, she said. Even if people set up blocks to prevent unknown numbers from messaging them, their own number would still be able to get through.
"It's what we call 'spoofing,'" said Wolff, of the method of using numbers with the same number as someone or with the same area code. This has been made easier now by the number of calls and messages we now can make using the internet.
There's a lot more flexibility in saying who the caller or texter is if it’s coming through the internet.
"We're seeing people use the tactics that they've learned in email phishing and apply them to text message phishing," she said.
People shouldn't worry too much, as this doesn't mean that these scammers have access to the actual phones linked to these numbers.
For those who clicked on the link in the message, it appears to go to a site that is a Russian fake news television network. "There's no indication of any malware being delivered," said Wolff. "It looks a little more like a disinformation campaign than a malware campaign."
This is good, but in general, people should be suspicious of any message of this sort being sent to them.
It’s unclear where the messages originated from, although it is likely there is a link to Russia based on the contents, said Wolff.
LISTEN to KCBS Radio
FAVORITE KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
